Former Spartan Underwood's stab wound was self-inicted

Police found the player Sunday afternoon after getting calls that a man was yelling for help. He was covered with blood as officers approached.

"He was somewhat despondent," police spokesman Lt. Ray Hall said. "He was upset, physically upset."

Hall said Underwood apparently slashed his neck with a knife at the home of the mother of his twin 17-month-old children.

No one in the home saw him cut himself, but several people in the neighborhood saw him running down the street afterward.

AP PHOTO Former Michigan State and current Miami Dolphin defensive end Dimitrius Underwood is currently being treated at Sparrow Hospital after slashing himself in the throat.

Police took Underwood to Sparrow Hospital, where he was listed in fair condition Monday after undergoing surgery Sunday. No further information was released at the request of his family.

"This is real rough for the family," Hall said. "They're going through a real rough time, like any family would at a time like this."

Hall said physical evidence at the scene and witnesses' statements convinced police Underwood used the knife on himself.

The officer would not describe the knife, other than to say it was a common household knife. He declined to say if Underwood had written a suicide note.

The 22-year-old player cooperated with police when they found him about 12:45 p.m. Sunday and has spoken with police since, Hall said.

He declined to say if Underwood gave them a reason for his actions, but said police are close to completing their investigation.

"Our attention is turned toward safeguarding his good mental health," Hall said.

Underwood was arrested by Lansing police about 7 p.m. Saturday for nonpayment of child support.

A $500 bond was posted for him about three hours later, but Underwood refused to leave the jail in Mason for another hour, spending the time talking to another inmate, Hall said.

Police had no trouble arresting Underwood or taking him to the county jail, Hall said.

Underwood played defensive end at Michigan State for three seasons before sitting out his senior year with a sprained ankle.

The Minnesota Vikings in April made Underwood their second first-round draft pick, and 29th overall.

He signed a five-year, $5.3 million contract Aug. 1 but walked out of training camp the next day. Underwood told coach Dennis Green he had no desire to play football.

Michigan State football coach Nick Saban on Monday hinted that Underwood's ambivalence about playing football may not be new.

"I think Dimitrius' behavior over a little bit of time here has been a little bit unusual," Saban said at his weekly news conference.

"We tried to help the guy last year; I know the Dolphins have tried to help him now, and I've talked to him on several occasions ... Maybe now someone can help him and he can do well."

Underwood has explained his departure from Minnesota by saying he was torn between a desire to pursue the ministry and the need to support his children.

The Vikings released him Aug. 11. Underwood sacrificed a $1.75 million signing bonus by leaving.

He was claimed on waivers by Miami after 23 other teams passed on him and is now getting a base salary of $395,000 in the first season of a five-year contract with Miami.

Underwood dislocated his left shoulder during preseason and was expected to begin working out again this week. The Dolphins did not play Sunday.

On Monday, Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson said he had spoken with Sparrow Hospital nurses about Underwood's condition.

"(I) have passed on the word that we are 100 percent supportive of him. Our No. 1 concern is his health and well-being, and the No. 1 thing we want to do is for him to get well," Johnson said during a Miami news conference.

Johnson declined further comment. The team did not practice Monday, and players were unavailable for comment.

"He's a good person and a good guy and he's going through some hard times right now," Saban said.

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